constant fatigue and inability to sleep

I started my junior year of cross country three weeks ago, or a week before I started school. Since school started two weeks ago, I haven't been able to fall asleep, and if I do I can't stay asleep. For the past two weeks I've been averaging about 5.5 hours of sleep. This has lead to having a really bad season so far and a constant feeling of tiredness and apathy. I had mono last winter and this feels nothing like having mono, so I think that's out of the picture. I also know I'm not an insomniac. I have my suspicions about what it is (hyperthyroidism- it runs in my family) but I would love to know if anyone has experienced this before or if anyone has any ideas as to what it might be. This is my third season of cross country and I've yet to have a good one (walking pneumonia freshman year and mono last year) so I'd really like to get this taken care of as soon as possible.

Well you do have insomnia. Insomniac isn't really a word used in the medical community, that is more of a socially made up word that doesn't refer to an actual medical condition. (Many would argue it's a negative and demeaning word so be careful how you use it.)

Insomnia can be cause by any number of things stress being usually at the very top of the list of causes. Athletes who usually struggle with insomnia need to rule out over training as a cause.

You say yours started up after you started school, so you probably just have an overwhelming amount of stress and things on your mind. You are stressing yourself a lot physically and emotionally and it probably is interfering with sleep.

Have you tried any sleep aids?

Melatonin is a cheap one you can find over the counter and works very well for most people. I take it quite regularly as I struggle with chronic insomnia due to low levels of Melatonin so it has worked great for me. I actually take it 90% of the time in the summer months (due to it being lighter outside later).

I have a tendency to believe Tylenol is a sugar pill, not sure if there is any actual medication in it lol however some people do find Tylenol PM helps. Advil I believe also makes a sleep aid.

I would try something like that and see if it helps. Getting the right amount of rest is important.

Depression? That can really screw with sleep patterns and make you feel tired and apathetic. And it's not uncommon for extra stress (like the start of the school year) to trigger a depressive episode. Ask your doctor about this when you go--there are many good treatments, and certainly nothing to be ashamed of.